Ankeny officials broke ground Friday on a new public library building in The District at Prairie Trail.

Though some residents initially expressed concern over the project, construction comes after Ankeny residents passed an $8.5 million bond referendum in May 2017 with a 72 percent approval in support of the project.

The overall $25 million project would include space for city council chambers and money to repurpose the Kirkendall building into offices for city staffers.

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During Trick or Read at the Ankeny Library on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017.(Photo: Merle Laswell/For the Register)

The current Kirkendall library building, at 1210 N.W. Prairie Ridge Drive, is about 26,000 square-feet.

The new 55,000-square-foot building, at 1250 S.W. District Drive, will allow the library to offer additional programming, increase its circulation and offer more quiet rooms and public meeting space. The name will stay the same: Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library.

The new library was designed by OPN Architects, and Stahl Construction is the contractor. Construction on the building is expected to be completed during the summer of 2019.

“This is a really exciting day for the residents of Ankeny," said Mayor Gary Lorenz, according to a press release from the city. “More people are choosing to make Ankeny their home and as our community grows, our facility needs grow. Managing smart growth is a priority for the Ankeny City Council and by building this new library we will be able to better serve our community and we will have the ability to accommodate future growth.”